Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-02-17

ice"
"Yes; but she took lemon ice at the las
Dorothea reception, and asked me if hac
observed that the lower animals refused tbei
food at temperature over sixty degrees"
Mr.. Rightbody again moved impatiently
towards the door. Mrs. Rightbody eyed hin
curiously.
You will not write, l hopea Dr. Kep
pier told me tonight that your celebra
symptoms interdicted any prolonged menta
strain"
II must consult few papers" responded
Mr.. Rightbody, curtly, as be entered his
library.
1t was richly furnished apartment, NOR.
bidly severe in its decorations, which were
symptomatic of a gloomy dyspepsia of art,
then quite prevalent A few curios, very
ugly, but providentially equally rare, were
scattered about. There were various bronzes,
marbles and casts, all requiring explanation,
and so fulfilling their purpose of promoting
conversation and exhibiting the erudition of
their owner. There were souvenirs of travel
with history, old bric-a-brac with pedigree,
but little or nothing that challenged attention
for itself alone. In all cases the superiority
of the owner to his possessions was admitted
As natural result nobody ever fingered
there, the servants avoided the room and no
child was ever known to play in it.
Mr.. Rightbody turned up the gas and from
a cabinet of drawers, precisely labeled, drew
package of letters. These he carefully ex-
amined. AL were discolored and made dig.
nified by age, but some, in their original
freshness, must have appeared trifing, and
inconsistent with any correspondent of Mr..
Rightbody. Nevertheless, that gentleman
spent some moments in carefully perusins
them, occasionally referring to the telegram
in his hand. Suddenly there was knock at
the door. Mr.. Rightbody started, made
half-unconscious movement to return the
letters to the drawer, turned the telegram
face downwards, and then, somewhat harshly,
stammered:
"Eh? Whose there? Come in"
Il beg your pardon, papa" said a very
pretty girl, entering, without, however, the
slightest trace Of apology or awe in her man.
ner, and taking a chair with the self f-posses-
sion and familiarity of habitue Of the
room, "but l knew it was not your habit to
write late, SO supposed you were not busy.
am on my way to bed"
She was so very pretty, and withal SO ut
terly unconscious of it, or perhaps SO con-
sciously superior to it, that one was provoked
into more critical examination of her face.
But this only resulted in reiteration Of her
beauty, and perhaps the added facts that her
dark eyes were very womanly, her rich COM
plexion eloquent and her chiseled lips full
enough to be passionate or capricious not
withstanding that their general effect suggest
ed neither caprice, womanly weakness nor
passion.
With the instinct of an embarrassed man,
Mr.. Rightbody touched the topic he would
have preferred to avoid.
II suppose we must talk over tomorrow"
he hesitated, "this matter of yours and Mr..
Marvins! Mrs. Marvin has formally spoken
to your mother"
Miss Alice lifted her bright eyes intelli-
gently, but not joyfully, and the color of
action, rather than embarrassment, rose to
her round cheeks
"Yes, he said she would" she answered,
simply.
AT present." continued Mr. Rightbody,
still awkwardly, Il see no objection to the
proposed arrangement"
Miss Alice opened her round eyes at this
"Why, papa, 1 thought it had been all set
tied long ago! Mamma knew it, you knew it.
Last July mamma and you talked it over"
eyes, yes" returned her father, fumbling
his papers; that is-well we will talk of it
tomorrow" In fact, Mr.. Rightbody had
intended to give the affair a proper attitude
of seriousness ard solemnity by due precision
of speech and some opposite reflections, when
he should impart the news to his daughter, but
felt himself unable to do it now. II am glad,
Alice" he said at last, that you have quite
forgotten your previous whims and fancies.
You see ICE are right"
"Oh! I dare say, papa, if I'm to be mar
ried at all, that Mr.. Marvin is in every way
suitable"
Mr. Rightbody looked at his daughter mar
rowly. There was not the slightest impatience
nor bitterness in her manner; it was as well
as the sentiment she expressed
"Mr. Marvin isn-he began.
II know what Mr.. Marvin is" interrupted
Miss Alice; "and he has promised me that I
shall be allowed to go on with my studies
class; and, if prefer to practice my profess
sion, I can do so in two years after our mar
riage."
"In two years?" queried Mr.. Rightbody, |
"Yes. You see, in case we should have a |
child, that would give me time enough to |
wean it."
Mr.. Rightbody looked at this flesh of his |
flesh, pretty and palpable flesh as it was; but,
being confronted as equally with the brain of |
his brain, all he could do was to say meekly:
"Yes, certainly. We will see about all |
that tomorrow"
Miss Alice rose. Something in the free,
unfettered swing of her arms as she rested
them lightly, after half yawn, on her 1.-the
hips, suggested his next speech, although still
1istrait and impatient
"You continue your exercise with the
health-lift yet, see."
"Yes, papa; but had to give up the fan
nels. l don't see how mamma could wear
them But my dresses are high-necked, and
By bathing l toughen my skin See !" she
added, as with child-like Inconsistencies,
she unfastened two or three buttons of her
gown, and exposed the white surface of her
throat and neck to her father, 81 can defy
chill"
Mr.. Rightbody, with something akin to a
genuine, playful paternal laugh, leaned for
ward and kissed her forehead